used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
attendantnounUS /əˈtendənt/
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
caressingnounUS /kərˈesɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
a young female
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
guest'snounUS /ɡests/
possessive form of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly realising what was required of her the girl sat down.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
KneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
obeisancenounUS /oʊˈbeɪsəns/
bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
Olwen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
with speed
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
realising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly realising what was required of her the girl sat down.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Hardly realising what was required of her the girl sat down.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Hardly realising what was required of her the girl sat down.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
in a swift manner
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
very small
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
unlacedadjective
with laces not tied
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the girl removed her hat she was rapidly opening the bag and taking from it such things as she needed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hardly realising what was required of her the girl sat down.
which person or people
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, placing a chair before the tiny mirror, she invited Olwen to be seated, with a mute gesture of obeisance.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE FIRST DAY The ayah, who had set down the guest’s things, closed the door behind her without a sound.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Kneeling before her, her new attendant swiftly unlaced her thick boots and held the little feet in her hands with a caressing touch, as though she would have chafed warmth into them.
